Hungary will no longer be hosting the 2024 European Women’s Handball Championship, cabinet minister Gergely Gulyás announced in his weekly briefing after the cabinet meeting, citing the significant costs involved. Even before the government briefing, an interview with Fidesz caucus leader and head of the Hungarian Handball Federation, Máté Kocsis, suggested that the Hungarian federation would pull out of the event.
This would leave co-hosts Austria and Switzerland to field the events Hungary was supposed to hold.
In response to the government’s intention, the European Handball Federation (EHF) said that until the Hungarian Handball Federation officially informs it of its decision, it would assume that Austria, Switzerland, and Hungary are still hosting the tournament, as reported by sports daily Nemzeti Sport and confirmed in the EHF’s own release.
“The European Handball Federation reacts surprised to today’s statements related to the organisation of the Women’s EHF EURO 2024 made by the president of the Hungarian Handball Federation in the Hungarian media as well as by the Hungarian government as part of a government briefing,” wrote the EHF.
“The EHF is aware of information exchanges on that matter that recently took place between the championship’s three organisers: Hungary, Switzerland and Austria. For the EHF, the tournament’s existing organisational structure remains unchanged unless official information from the Hungarian Handball Federation is received. The Executive Committee will further deal with the matter at its next meeting on 28 January and relevant information will be communicated accordingly.”
